Tuolumne River Rafting Near Yosemite National Park
Tuolumne River Rafting Near Yosemite: Overview
What’s your pleasure? The Tuolumne River in California, located just outside Yosemite National Park is a standard-setting river among all the California rafting experiences O.A.R.S. offers our guests and is one of our "Seven Whitewater Wonders in the World". We serve up the Tuolumne River (pronounced Too-all-uh-me) also known as “The T” - anyway you want it! There’s a thrill-stacked one day Tuolumne River rafting trip, an adventurous 48-hour getaway with cool side hikes up side canyons carved by cascading waterfalls as well as a carefree three-day Tuolumne rafting vacation with lots of time just for you. All three California rafting options take you to headwaters of the Tuolumne River which originate in the internationally renowned wilds of Yosemite National Park. A true wilderness trip on a "Wild and Scenic" river, the Tuolumne River spills 18 miles into a desolate, awesome river canyon roaring with whitewater – big in spring, moderate in late summer. Offered seven months a year, a Tuolumne rafting trip works perfectly into a California vacation to San Francisco, Napa Valley and the California coast.
View NBC's coverage of the O.A.R.S Tuolumne River " Wine on the River" Trip.
Tuolumne River Rafting Near Yosemite: Itinerary at a Glance
- We meet near Groveland just outside of Yosemite National Park for the start of our Tuolumne River rafting trip
- Within the first two miles of the trip, three of the Tuolumne’s most notorious rapids: Rock Garden, Nemesis and Rams Head offer an eye-opening introduction to the scenic river canyon
- The rest of the morning is spent sharpening our paddling skills and maneuvering rafts through chutes, around boulders and over sudden drops
- Spend time relaxing alongside the river and enjoy a delicious lunch
- Back on the Tuolumne River, each mile brings more white-knuckling thrills, laughs, adrenaline and high fives
- Around mile five, a distant rumbling signals the biggest whitewater in the canyon: Clavey Falls. The ultimate thrill, Clavey is actually a series of three staircase drops that are sure to deliver heart-pounding and unabashed excitement
- Camp alongside the river and enjoy the scenic wilderness while hiking, fishing or just relaxing
- Back on the river after a hearty breakfast, Grey’s Grindstone, Thread the Needle and Hell’s Kitchen provide more whitewater thrills
- The three-day option offers time to explore the hidden wonders of this canyon. Great hikes along the Tuolumne’s side streams reveal waterfalls, swimming holes, natural waterslides and clear creeks that offer excellent trout fishing. There’s also time for relaxing on the beach or joining a game of Frisbee, volleyball or horseshoes
- Our trip concludes back at your car near Groveland
Rafting the Tuolumne River in California near Yosemite:
Mile by Mile Guide
Mile 0 |
Meral’s Pool Put-in (start) of O.A.R.S. Tuolumne River Whitewater Rafting trips. This section of the Tuolumne River is named for Gerry Meral who was one of the first people to kayak the Tuolumne and who has been a crusader for river preservation. |
Mile 0.1 |
ROCK GARDEN (IV). At lower water flows, this boulder-strewn section is extremely technical. Rafts typically have to cross from river right to river left. At higher flows there is a large reversal near the bottom of the rapid. There is a beautiful sandy beach and campsite on river right. O.A.R.S. sometimes uses this camp for multi-day trips on the Tuolumne River. |
Mile 0.4 |
NEMISIS (IV). Found just after a sharp left-hand bend, this is another very technical rapid at low-water flows. It is a fun, wild ride at higher flows. The Nemesis is a big boulder cluster about half way down. |
Mile 0.8 |
SUNDERLAND'S CHUTE (IV+). This rapid is named for Dick Sunderland, one of the Tuolumne River’s early kayak explorers. The river turns right and then drops over a rough gravel bar/chute on the left. The river’s gradient here is 80 feet per mile. |
Mile 1.0 |
HACKAMACK HOLE (IV). There is a sharp drop divided by two big rocks near the center at low flows. At high flows they form a river-wide reversal that is hard to miss. This rapid was named for Bob Hackamack, a river enthusiast who has been involved with Friends of the Tuolumne, the Sierra Club and numerous other conservations groups. |
Mile 1.5 |
RAM'S HEAD (IV; V above 3500 cfs). The Tuolumne bends left and drops. At medium and high flows the boulder creates a powerful spouting hole. There is a good recovery pool below. |
Mile 1.9 - 2.1 |
INDIA & LOWER INDIA (IV) There are two short chutes separated by a small pool. According to private boater and geologist Terry Wright, PhD., this rapid is named after India Fleming, who was 14 years old when she first ran the Tuolumne during one of the early exploratory kayak runs. Apparently, she was the first female to run this river. |
Mile 3.3 |
Tin Can Cabin. Found on river left, this camp is occasionally used by Tuolumne River fishermen. The Tuolumne River is stocked by the California Department of Fish and Game with salmon, rainbow trout and brown trout. There are several mines up the gulley on the left where it is possible to find mining artifacts. It is proper etiquette to leave what you find. |
Mile 4.4 |
STERNS (IV) When the water flow is low, rafts must run a narrow chute between the left wall and a van-sized rock. Get turned sideways heading into this rapid and you will be sure to experience some real whitewater excitement! |
Mile 4.7 |
EVANGELIST (IV) The river bends right into a series of short drops with a big rock/hole right of center. This infamous Tuolumne River rapid is so named because it is “holey.” |
Mile 5.4 |
The confluence of the Tuolumne and Clavey Rivers. The Clavey River enters from river right. Small campsites can be found on either side of Clavey Falls, the biggest rapid on your Tuolumne River whitewater rafting adventure. It is often fun to camp here and anticipate throughout the night your upcoming ride through Clavey Falls Rapid. There are many good hiking and fishing opportunities up the Clavey River, however, both activities are dangerous at high water. Always check in with your guide(s) before adventuring away from camp. Be on the lookout for poison oak. |
Mile 5.4 |
CLAVEY FALLS (IV). This rapid is one of the reasons the Tuolumne River is considered the jewel of California Whitewater Rafting. Your thrilling California whitewater experience in this rapid begins with two big drops. The first drop is considered “The Falls” and it can push boats into a frothy current, sending rafts into the left wall. There is a very large hole across the left half of the river just prior to the second drop. It is hard to miss the hole when the river flow is above 2000 cfs. Navigating your way through this rapid earns bragging rights in any setting. |
Mile 5.9 |
Access to the Hamby Trail is found on river left. This two-mile trail leading to Ferretti Road has approximately 40 switchbacks and an 1850-ft elevation gain (and a startling quantity of ticks). |
Mile 7.5 |
Powerhouse Campsite. This wide, sandy campsite is found on the right side of the Tuolumne River. Destroyed by flood in 1937, this powerhouse originally provided electricity for miners early in the century. A trail on the left bank leads out of the canyon. |
Mile 7.9 |
Grapevine Creek enters the Tuolumne river on the right. Grapevine Campsite can be found downstream on the left. |
Mile 8.2 |
Your Tuolumne River whitewater rafting experience is not always about the whitewater. History avails itself to those seeking hidden treasures: an abandoned hard rock mineshaft is on the left. Be on the lookout for artifacts, and practice proper Leave No Trace etiquette: leave historical artifacts where you find them. |
Mile 8.3 |
Indian Creek enters from the left. There is a campsite on river right, and an old mining road climbs out of the Tuolumne Canyon just downstream. |
Mile 9.5 |
GRAY'S GRINDSTONE (IV) Gray's Grindstone, one of the longest rapids on your Tuolumne River whitewater rafting trip, is over one-half mile long. |
Mile 11 |
THREAD THE NEEDLE (IV) Rocks block most of the river. There is a "Chicken Shot" on river left, but only the truly adventurous have been known to "thread the needle" between the rocks in the center. There are two campsites on river left near this rapid. |
Mile 12.2 |
The quartz mine shafts found on both banks were abandoned around 1909. Be on the lookout for remnants of a steam engine on river right. |
Mile 12.6 |
CABIN (IV). There is a big hole just below the entrance to this rapid. The river then bends right and drops down a curving chute. On the left is Big Humbug Creek. |
Mile 12.8 |
Big Creek enters from the left, where there is a large, unshaded campsite. Follow the creek a short way to a waterfall. There are Indian mortar holes near the creek's mouth. |
Mile 12.9 |
HELL'S KITCHEN (IV). This rapid starts with Class III drops over a jumble of boulders, and it then turns into a slalom between large rocks. |
Mile 14.4 |
There is an old, tattered suspension bridge which marks the site of abandoned quartz mines. There are still remnants of old mining equipment found on river left. The Mohican trail leads out of the canyon from river left. |
Mile 15.1 |
The North Fork of the Tuolumne enters from river right, and there are campsites here. Found upstream on the tributary is the site of an old bridge, which once linked Tuolumne City with the Mohican Trail. |
Mile 15.8 |
High-water mark of New Don Pedro Reservoir. There are more whitewater rapids from this point - when the reservoir is low. When the reservoir is full - the river is flat and still. |
Mile 16.5 |
Turnback Creek enters on the right. History states that an abundance of gold was located here in 1856. |
Mile 17.5 |
PINBALL (IV+) Pinball Rapid is exposed only when Don Pedro Reservoir is low. |
Mile 18 |
Ward’s Ferry Bridge Cold drinks and a return shuttle to your vehicle await at the take-out of your O.A.R.S. Tuolumne River rafting trip. |
Information for this Mile by Mile guide was gathered from the books “California Whitewater” and “A Guide to the Best Whitewater in the State of California”, as well as from a variety of sources on the Internet.
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